Things We Left Behind Chapter 9: Canoodling with the Devil – Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Sloane, Naomi, and Lina arrive at Rollins Consulting for a tour. Sloane’s old friend Nolan Graham greets her warmly, and Lucian appears unexpectedly. While Lina shows them the office, Sloane learns that Lucian hired Holly—a former homeless single mother—and questions her long‑held belief that he is a heartless villain. Later, Lucian intercepts Sloane and takes her bag containing her father’s files. In his corner office, their verbal sparring escalates into a charged physical confrontation. As they nearly kiss, Petula interrupts, ordering Sloane to leave. The chapter ends with both characters shaken by the undeniable attraction that neither wants to acknowledge.

Key Events

Sloane, Naomi, and Lina visit Lucian’s office building; receptionist Petula demands IDs.
Nolan hugs Sloane; Lucian appears and watches her.
Lina gives a tour; Sloane notices the office’s humane atmosphere.
Sloane learns Holly was hired straight from a homeless shelter.
In the restroom, Sloane reflects on her crumbling certainty about Lucian.
Lucian takes Sloane’s bag containing her father’s files and leads her to his office.
They argue about her giving the files to Lina instead of him.
Lucian admits he wants her not to matter; Sloane taunts him by sitting on his desk.
He steps between her thighs, and they nearly kiss.
Petula interrupts, announcing an emergency call.
Sloane leaves, flipping his tie over his shoulder.

Character Development

Sloane Walton: Begins to question the black‑and‑white villain image she has held of Lucian for years. She feels lost and notices her body’s involuntary response to him. Her inner conflict—between wanting to hate him and feeling drawn to him—deepens.

Lucian Rollins: Displays vulnerability when he says, “I want you not to matter at all,” exposing that Sloane affects him more than he wants. His decision to hire Holly contradicts Sloane’s view of him, hinting at hidden compassion.

Supporting Characters: Nolan appears happy and healed; Petula functions as a watchful, no‑nonsense gatekeeper who sees through the sexual tension. Lina and Naomi remain curious about the dynamic.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Perception vs. Reality: Sloane expects a dungeon but finds a bright, positive workplace. Lucian’s act of hiring a homeless woman forces her to question her own certainties.

Hate and Attraction: The chapter frames their conflict as a magnetic pull neither can control. The near‑kiss is described as both a “horrible idea” and something they both desire.

Vulnerability: Both characters drop their guarded facades for a moment. Lucian’s admission and Sloane’s admission of exhaustion (“exhausted by us”) reveal emotional honesty beneath the bickering.

Boundaries and Interruption: Petula’s intrusion symbolizes the external obstacles (schedules, social roles, past history) that keep them apart.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 9 is a turning point in the romantic tension between Sloane and Lucian. It moves their dynamic from verbal sparring to physical proximity, forcing both to acknowledge an attraction that threatens their entrenched enmity. It also provides hard evidence that Lucian is not the monster Sloane imagined—he has quietly done good deeds. This chapter deepens the central conflict: Can Sloane reconcile her personal grudge with the truth she is starting to see?

Study Questions

What evidence in this chapter contradicts Sloane’s long‑held view of Lucian as a “villain”?
Answer: Sloane learns that Lucian hired Holly, a homeless single mother, giving her a job and a fresh start. She also sees a welcoming, non‑oppressive office culture. These facts chip away at her belief that he is purely evil.
How does Petula’s role in the office serve as a foil to Lucian’s authority?
Answer: Petula unapologetically interrupts Lucian’s dangerous moment with Sloane, insisting he keep his schedule. She is the only character who orders him around, showing that even someone as powerful as Lucian can be accountable to his own staff.
What does Lucian mean when he says, “I want you not to matter at all”?
Answer: He confesses that Sloane does matter to him—deeply—and that fact unsettles him. The line reveals his frustration: he cannot control his reaction to her, and he wishes he could erase her significance in his life.